Electroencephalographic and electrocardiographic features of vasovagal syncope induced by head-up tilt.
Two hundred and seventy-nine consecutive patients referred for transient loss of consciousness, compatible with syncope, underwent head-up tilt to 70 degrees during polygraphic (EEG, ECG, pneumographic) and blood pressure monitorings. Vasovagal syncopes occurred in 28 patients with the following EEG changes: progressive slowing until the appearance of middle or high amplitude delta waves generalized and synchronous in 9 patients; delta waves suddenly followed by transient flattening of EEG activity in 16 patients. In 2 patients EEG could not be interpreted because of muscle and/or movement artifacts. Fifteen out of 28 patients exhibited a marked cardioinhibition, expressed by long-lasting cardiac pauses; a relationship between duration of EEG flat and duration of asystole was not found.
Grossi
D
D
1st Department of Neurology, University of Bari, Italy.
Buonomo
C
C
Mirizzi
F
F
Santostasi
R
R
Simone
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000294:innervation; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000502:physiology*; D013575:Syncope / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*